MANCHESTER UNITED TODAY : The Little Gnome Clinging On To The Heals Of Manchester United

“The way to beat Manchester United is to let Manchester United have the majority of the ball possession in a match.”           

                  

     (JJ Bull, The Telegraph. 4 December 2019) 

This advice sounds like a major recipe for disaster if there ever was one for any opponent poised to face Manchester United but non the less the idea of Manchester United having a mass amount of ball possession projected to be the leading cause of any struggle Manchester United has had the season. According to an article written by JJ Bull of the Telegraph, Manchester United have struggled in matches where opponents have sat back to defend for a large part of the match and hit Manchester United on the counter-attack rather than laying massive amounts of attacking pressure on Manchester United for an entire match handing Manchester United the opportunity to build through the teams counter-attacking strength. 

While the idea of Manchester United have struggled to create goals through open play this season might sound a little uncomfortable to hear from a Manchester United perspective, there is some truth to the insinuation of Ole Gunner Solskjaer side struggling to create from open play especially in games where Manchester United have faced off against defense-minded teams. Looking at the Manchester United schedule so far this season. Results have been extremely good to Manchester United this season as Solskjear side has produced fantastic results when competing against stronger teams or teams currently sitting above Manchester United in the Premier League table.  

Victories against Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham (at an earlier point in the season when Spurs were sitting at the top 4 spots of the table) have suddenly energized Manchester United’s hopes of Champions League qualification. However, while Manchester United seems to have thrived on matches against the Premier League top four clubs this season, picking up results against clubs such as Newcastle as well as other teams known to have a reputation as a feisty Premier League team such as Wolverhampton has played a major role in hindering Manchester United's ambitions of picking up a spot in the Premier League tables top four. 

The problem of struggling to secure victories against current teams sitting bellow the top six spots of the Premier League table is a situation Manchester United must iron out quickly if Ole Gunner Solskjaer still intends to see his side end the season with a place in one of the top four spots of the Premier League table. Currently sitting 5 points below Chelsea at the 5th spot Ole Gunner Solskjaer and his team currently hold a great opportunity to challenge for 4th spot in the Premier League table with Chelsea prepared to face tough opponent Arsenal twice within December 2019 and January 2020 in a match which has the potential to force Chelsea into dropping points soon, Solskjaer must endeavor to make sure his Manchester United side secure victories against tonight's opponents Newcastle United and the next opponent Burnley with Manchester United set to hold the home advantage over Newcastle tonight. 

  

So far in the season, Manchester United have displayed some signs of struggle against teams outside the top five spots of the Premier League table. Stalemates and losses to teams such as Aston Villa, Sheffield United, West Ham, Newcastle, and few other uncharacteristic results have left Manchester United in a difficult position outside the top four. Despite the situation, Ole Gunner Solskjear team has done a terrific job of keeping themselves within touching distance of the top four but with half the season now completed, Manchester United certainly should be considered a serious candidate to finish the season in one of the top four spots in the Premier League table.  

Looking at Manchester United's opponent for this week, Newcastle United also known as the Magpies is notoriously referred to around Tyne and Wear have not had such a bad run of form in the Premier League so far. In fact, in the last 10 matches before tonight's match at Old Trafford, Newcastle United have done such an incredible job of racking up point in the past month that the Magpies has racked up just 2 losses and racked up at least 17 points in general.





As a result, elevating themselves to 11th spot in the Premier League table as of the middle of December. While Manchester United and Newcastle will both be heading into tonight's match with some level of confidence Manchester United will be a team expected to come out of tonight's meeting with a victory considering Manchester United are at home. With the added incentive of getting a payback victory against Newcastle after Solskjaer's side suffered defeat at St James in October, three points will be expected from Manchester United tonight. 

  

  

On the injury report for Manchester United, the Red Devils appear to have quite a healthy roster heading into the match tonight. Solskjaer expressed concerned looks during the Everton game which took place two weeks again as midfielder Scott McTominar pick up a knock after colliding with an Everton player but the Scottish midfielder appears to be in good condition and should be in the starting lineup for tonight's match. There is still no definitive decision on Paul Pogba making his return to Manchester United starting lineup tonight after such a lengthy spell of absence due to injury but manager Ole Gunner Solskjaer recently admitted that the midfielder has been making steady progress on his road to full recovery from the ankle injury Paul Pogba pick up earlier this season so there is still a chance the French central midfielder might make his return to the starting XI this week.  

When all is said and done Manchester United should have a full squad tonight and the decision lies on the hands of manager Ole Gunner Solskjaer to find the best way to channel the recent few runs of positive results from Manchester United into a victory in this week's upcoming matches.